World Population Day observed all over Manipur
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 11 2014 : As in other parts of the globe, World Population Day was widely observed in the State today.

Directorate of Family Welfare Services and State Health Mission Society, Manipur jointly observed the day at Manipur Film Development Corporation (MFDC) auditorium.

Health and Family Welfare Principal Secretary Dr Suhel Akhtar, State Health Society, State Mission Director Dr Okram Ibomcha, Family Welfare Services Additional Director Dr K Rajo, Imphal West CMO Dr S Bimolakumari and Urban Health Mission, State Nodal Officer Dr S Manikanta attended the function as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

A rally was taken out from Kangla to MFDC as part of the observance.

Speaking at the occasion, Dr Suhel Akhtar said that people of the country need to adopt family planning like they plan their family expenditure.

Reiterating the old slogan a small family is a happy family, Suhel Akhtar directed the ASHAs and ANMs to advise the couples to adopt family planning.

Dr Okram Ibomcha while speaking at the function informed that India alone has around 270 million youths out of which 600000 are in Manipur.

Expressing concern over ever increasing population, he advised newly married couples to have children after three years from their marriage and maintain a gap of atleast three years between their children.

Ibomcha said that NRHM is planning to award incentives to ASHAs who can effectively execute the system among young couples.

Dr K Rajo said that World Population Day was first observed on July 11, 1989 as various countries were witnessing increase of population at the alarming rate.

Speaking in the context of Manipur, he said that the birth rate of Manipur is 14.6 per cent and death rate is 4.4 per cent.

With medical science is advancing everywhere, life span has increased considerably and family planning is the only means to check population explosion, he added.

Saying that India's Family Planning Programme was incepted in 1952 and National Population Policy was adopted in 2000, Dr K Rajo said that the country is planning to stabilised population by 2045 .

Dr S Bimolakumari said that India is one of the countries which are on the verge of facing population explosion.

With the total population of the world crossing 7.13 billion, several countries were facing problems in providing the essentials of life that prompted the United Nations Development Programme to observe the World Population Day, she added.

Dr S Manikanta said that the world population had crossed 5 billion mark in 1987 .

He opined that it is high time to discuss on urban health facilities as huge number of people are shifting from rural areas to urban areas.

Our Ukhrul Correspondent adds: Today at District Hospital, Ukhrul District level World population day celebration was observed.

Ukhrul DC Modak Hrishikeesh Arvind speaking as chief guest of the occasion, said that the observance should not be regarded as just a programme or function, but ensure to sensitize the people from the grass root level.

The pressure of population on the land resources, the public should understand to accept the family planning willing on their own will, he added.

No one should be forced, this idea of population control should increase in manifold, he added.

Tangkhul Women League President SC Ringluiwon attended the programme as the guest honour .

She noted one factor for rapid increase of population increase in the district is illiteracy and ignorance.

She ensures her support in disseminating the need of family planning.

The Kamphasom elders, womenfolk, district hospital staff and doctor attended the district world population day celebration.

Meanwhile, the MO Kamjong CHC Dr Kapangring also a programme Coordinator highlighted IEC activities and the exhibition of family planning method to be taken in this fortnight - July 11-24 in the district.

Sensitizing the people through loud speakers, pamphlet at district and block levels, insertion of Copper T, distribution of contraceptive pills free of cost would be the main highlights.

Our Thoubal Correspondent adds: Under the theme of 'Planned Family Happiness Forever', Observation of World Population Fortnight began with an inaugural function held today at District Hospital Chandel.

The observation which would go on till July 24 in all the five blocks of the district was inaugurated by District Immunization Officer (DIO), Dr Romi Ngoru as resource person of the day.

Organised by District Health Society Chandel, officials of NRHM Chandel, Doctors and Nurses of the district hospitals and staff of the CMO Chandel attended the function.

Speaking at the occassion as resource person, Monitoring Chairman of RKS HB Kobor urged the gathering to plan a family to live a happy life forever.

Dr Romi Ngoru in her illustration of the theme stressed on mobilization and awareness of the mass as an important objective of the observation as she went on to highlight Intra Uterine Contraceptive Device (IUCD/CuT), Mala-N, Condoms and E-Pill as forthnight activities that would be carried through out the blocks of the districts.

Tubectomy and Vasectomy were also pointed as the additional activity.

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